Phone mast plan near conservation area criticised

Sure submitted a plan to build the mast near the Le Mont Saint garage

A plan to build a mobile phone mast to boost mobile phone coverage in Guernsey has been criticised.

Telecoms firm Sure has submitted plans for a 12m (39ft) timber-clad mast at the Le Mont Saint garage site to "enhance coverage and data speeds".

Residents and the National Trust criticised the proposal due to concerns over the impact on the natural landscape at the site, which is near the St Apolline conservation area.

Sure said it had considered the impact on residents, the island and the environment, adding the equipment was designed to be "as discreet as possible".

Olly Brock, head of planning at the National Trust of Guernsey, said the proposal should be reconsidered

Other objections sent to the States of Guernsey centred around a lack of information about the need for a new mast and health concerns.

Tanya Haines, who lives on La Grande Rue, said the area was "unique" and "historical" and the proposal was "shocking".

"Within the application there is a lack of protection for Guernsey's historical landscape," she said.

Olly Brock, head of planning at the National Trust of Guernsey, said there had not been an explanation of why the mast was needed.

He said: "This is a lovely rural area and while it might be perfectly OK and great to have a mast and modern life goes on, can we just look at it more carefully, please?"

'Carefully considered'

Sure said the plans would "future-proof" its mobile network and it would consider feedback from islanders.

It said the mast would consolidate three sites currently serving the Le Mont Saint and Perelle area into a single site and "significantly improve coverage".

Cyrille Joffre, chief technology and information officer, said: "When planning network upgrades we consider various sites and take into account the impact on residents, the island and the environment.

"This location has been carefully considered, and the equipment is designed to be as discreet as possible and complies with international guidelines."